James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
10. Santa Baby – Kylie Minogue
Kylie oozes sex appeal from the first note on this rather raunchy version of the old favourite. She could jump out of my stocking at any time of the year…
9. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
If you work in retail, you undoubtedly hate this song. Popular in shops up and down the country, this catchy, but also repetitive, tune is guaranteed to get you tapping your feet while you shop for those last minute Christmas gifts.
8. Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade
Curly haired rockers took the charts by storm with this Christmas hit, beating Wizard to the Christmas number one in 1973. Wizard finished higher in our charts though, and we all know that’s the one that really counts.
7. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon
This moving Christmas song will bring a tear to many an eye this Christmas as people look back over the thirty years since the great man’s death in December 1980.
6. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizard
Ok so I don’t want it to be Christmas everyday, but I can’t help but smile the first time I hear this every year, even if it is October.
5. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
Probably the song most butchered by karaoke at this time of year, Mariah takes the number one slot for both the cheesiest tune and the widest vocal range, but this '90s classic only just gets her into our top five.
4. Last Christmas – Wham!
Beaten by Band Aid to the Christmas number one in 1984, George Michael, having sung on both records, was an all-round winner. The same can’t be said for Frankie Goes To Hollywood though, whose effort finished in third place in the chart battle.
3. Walking In The Air – Aled Jones
From the family classic ‘The Snowman’, this song always sends shivers down my spine. Unfortunately, since Aled’s voice broke, the thing he’s most famous for is his stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
2. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid
Bob Geldof – what a legend. The original is still the best!
1. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
In its rightful place at number one, this classic has enough romance, bitterness and Christmas spirit for it to be the one Christmas song you never get sick of hearing at this time of year.
Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0xWdoQJxMM
I know everyone loves 'Fairytale of New York,' but I've always found the original a little too abrasive. I prefer this cover - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEFpgb1a9DE
Every bloody year we get Fairytale of New York lauded as the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've always thought it was just alright, tbh.
I love Fairytale of New York purely because it's so satisfying to sing at the top of your lungs "you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot". But if we're talking favourite Christmas songs then for me, Mike Oldfield's In Dulci Jubilo is perfect to skip round the room to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4uLZcaRXcU
Quite a few things wrong with this list, not least the ordering. Fairytale of New York is a terrible song and literally the one song I tire of hearing year on year. I tired before I first heard it. I've heard it a million times and still only know about 10 lines of the song, which for me is shocking. The guy can't sing. I know that's the point - and I bought the song as a CD single so I'm not just being unnecessarily biased - but it doesn't deserve the top 20. It's "artsy" and nothing more.
Indeed Simon Cocks' video makes the point. Listen to the whole thing - the song is just a fairly hollow and average 1980s melody. The only reason that the original is so popular is because it already sounds like some drunk singing karaoke and therefore drunk people appreciate it much more. Doubt many people enjoy listening to it in the quiet of their own rooms.
But besides that, Walking In The Air isn't very good either. He misses a couple of notes - and Aled's singing is the only thing carrying a terrible song. I disagree with some of the others' placements too, but have to pick up on two more things.
Firstly, "Wrapping Paper – The Waitresses...Popular in shops up and down the country" - I have literally never heard of it? And indeed when I youtube it, http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wrapping+paper+the+waitresses&aq=f nothing comes up. But then I realised it's because you've got the name wrong and it's actually called "Christmas Wrapping". And yeah, I've actually heard it quite a lot and never knew who it was by or what it was called. It's actually called "Wrapping" because it's a pun on "rapping" though you'd hardly get that from the song. DIRE SONG.
Notable exclusions that would beat them include Stop The Cavalry, Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin Stevens, White Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, etc. etc. But obviously each list will be subjective and I just enjoy ranting my own frustrations with particular songs. However, the second thing I wanted to point out has already been mentioned...
Seriously, don't get the names of songs wrong. Christmas Wrapping is the name of the song. Slade's song is Merry Christmas Everybody ("...is, Merry Christmas, everybody's having..") and John Lennon's song is "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - not only is it not Christmas, it's not Merry either. I appreciate that you put the exclamation mark after Wham! and the question mark after Do They Know It's Christmas? but I'm still not satisfied. TRY HARDER.
Song names will be changed accordingly, Jason.
As for your issues with the order, there's not really a lot I can do (or rather not a lot I want to do) about that. Obviously this list doesn't cover the hundreds of thousands of Christmas songs out there; a lot of which I probably haven't even heard, for example the one Simon has linked to. However, of the ones I have heard, this was my choice. I'm not saying you have to agree, everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is mine. For the ones you suggested, I considered these but decided to go with a more modern approach.
Thanks for your feedback though.
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